Our knees do not get enough credit. They keep us upright, move us in rhythm to music, and help us carry heavy loads. Knees allow us to reach greater heights, giving us the ability to leap upward and over objects, launch into cannonballs, or dive off cliffs. Knees are essential also for absorbing the impact of a jump or a fall. They perform so many tasks for us that we don’t even give it a second thought most of the time, but they need special attention. Once you injure them, they are difficult to rehabilitate.
Taking good care of your knees is crucial if you want to avoid using a wheelchair in your advanced years. Some people tend to ignore the warning signs of knee problems and attribute them up to age or even the weather. They brush them off until the muscles and ligaments are so worn that they will need extensive surgery and physiotherapy to regain use.
If you are concerned about your knees, do not ignore the symptoms. Pain and discomfort are your body’s way of telling you that something is not right. Check below if you experience any of these warning signs, because it may be time to consult a healthcare professional:
You experience discomfort from standing up from a seated position
Knee injuries can happen at any time that you are physically active. You might not notice until you try to do simple movements like standing up from a seated position or bending down to pick up an item.
You can’t stay standing for long periods
If you need to sit down after standing for more than a few minutes, your knees might be the culprit. Ruling out any issues with your heart or lungs, standing for long periods shouldn’t cause you discomfort. If it does, you may have inflammation of the muscles around your knee joint that prevent you from maintaining an upright position.
You feel sharp pain behind or around your kneecaps
Sharp pain behind your knee might be a sign of Runner’s Knee, which is a common term that is used to describe the many ailments that can affect your joints such as knee malalignment, chondromalacia patella, or iliotibial band syndrome. These issues affect the tissues around your knee may become irritated or inflamed. The cartilage in your kneecap can also wear and tear with frequent use
You feel pain after doing sports activities
Some knee injuries don’t make themselves known until you work that muscle during a rigorous sports activity. Knee pain can be brought about by playing tennis, football, cycling, brisk walking, or distance running. Your increased activity causes your heart to pump more blood around your body. With continued exercise, the veins in your muscles expand to allow more blood to flow through. It may also be the trigger when your knees start to strain, and injuries become more noticeable.
The key takeaway
The problem with knees is that you may have a small tear in your ligament and still go about your routine. You might not notice the injury until one day when you experience extreme pain.
Keep in mind that knee injuries aren’t limited to older people or athletes. Anyone is prone to a knee injury even doing mundane things like climbing up the stairs, getting down from a car, or walking on uneven ground. Keep a lookout for the red flags so you can get the treatment you need. Guard your knee health, and you can stay active well into your senior years.
Do you need physiotherapy services in Brisbane? We have a team of highly trained experts in physiotherapy, remedial massage, and pilates. We specialise in creating rehabilitation plans that are tailor-fit to your needs. Find out more about how we can help you get back on your feet!
